Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad launched technical support programmes for owners and managers of eco-lodges and the eco-tourism product development programme in Siwa Oasis on Sunday.
Fouad said that the programmes aim to integrate biodiversity into tourism to support sustainable tourism and eco-friendly tourism development in Egypt.
The minister added that the two new programmes aim to raise awareness and build the capacities of owners, managers, and employees of eco-lodges, in addition to raising the competencies of eco-hotels and hostels with the participation of local communities and stakeholders to reach an eco-tourism product that achieves the sustainable management of natural resources and maximises the benefit of the cultures of local communities and the associated natural resources.
Moreover, Fouad pointed out that the implementation of the two programmes was preceded by a scientific and practical study based on field assessment visits to reach the current situation of the environmental lodges, preparing technical reports, and launching the guideline for implementing these standards in light of the current capabilities and future goals.
Local communities are involved in the projects as one of the most important axes that the ministry relies on for the development of natural reserves, according to the minister.
She further explained that these two programmes were implemented over two days in Siwa in the presence of a number of managers and owners of eco-lodges in Siwa, representatives of the Tourism Promotion Authority, the City Council, the Tourism Office, representatives of NGOs, and representatives of stakeholders associated with the ecotourism sector in Siwa Oasis.
